New Mexico Organization Receives High Honors from the Commerce Department

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Contact: Kelly O’Brien 202-482-4085

New Mexico Organization Receives High Honors from the Commerce Department

Silver City MainStreet Project Presented with Award for Historic Preservation-led Strategies to Enhance Economic Development

Silver City, N.M. – U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) Director of Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs Patty Sheetz and U.S. Representative Steve Pearce today presented the 2008 U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration Excellence in Economic Development Award for Historic Preservation-led Strategies to Enhance Economic Development to The Silver City MainStreet Project of Silver City, N.M. The award recognizes The Silver City MainStreet Project’s commitment to sound, research-based, market driven economic development in helping grow the local economy.

“We are pleased to announce that the Silver City MainStreet Project of Silver City, New Mexico has been chosen as the winner of the U.S. Economic Development Administration’s Excellence in Economic Development Award in the category of Historic Preservation-led Strategies to Enhance Economic Development. Excellence Award winners represent the best and brightest in 21st century economic development and they exemplify the importance of building the regional strategies needed for American communities to succeed in the global marketplace and create higher-skill, higher-wage jobs,” said Ms. Sheetz.

Possible U.S. Representative Steve Pearce quote,” said U.S. Representative Steve Pearce.

Nominations are made in specific categories announced each year and nominees are evaluated by a Selection Panel appointed by the Assistant Secretary for Economic Development.

This year, nominations were taken in eight categories: Excellence in Urban or Suburban Economic Development; Excellence in Rural Economic Development; Excellence in Enhancing Regional Competitiveness; Excellence in Economic Adjustment Strategies; Excellence in Technology-led Development; Excellence in Community and Faith-based Social Entrepreneurship; Excellence in Innovation; and Excellence in Historic Preservation-led Strategies to Enhance Economic Development.

EDA serves as a venture capital resource to meet the economic development needs of distressed communities throughout the United States. EDA’s mission is to lead the federal economic development agenda by promoting innovation and competitiveness, preparing American regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy.

Additional information on how EDA investments are helping distressed communities create a positive and sustainable economic future can be accessed at: http://www.eda.gov.

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